Watch-case



(No Model.)

`E. C. FITCH.

WATGH CASE.

No. 824,878. Patented Aug. 18, 1888.

I l l f I l l I r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA C. FITCI-I, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,675, dated August 18, 1885.

Application filed May 7, 1885.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EZEA' C. FITCH, of Ne\ fton, in the count-y of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vatch-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for strengthening the backs or covers of watch-cases to adapt them to resist pressure from without, so that what is known as a light-weight ease77 may be made sufficiently stift to protect the inelosed movement and particularly the balance, which is one of the most delicate parts of the movement and from its location is most liable to injury, especially in full-plate movements in which it is located above the top plate, and therefore in an exposed position. Ithas been the usual custom to provide an inner cover known as a cap77 to afford the needed protection, the cap'being generally attached to the body or center of the case by means of ahinge-joint, and separated from the back, so that it imparts no stiffness to the latter, but is simply the interposition of another piece of metal. Cases are sometimes constructed without the inner cap; but to insure sufficient protection of the movement the back has to be made of a greater thickness of metal, thus precluding the making of very light weight cases, adapted to sufiiciently protect the movement. In the watch-cases shown in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 315,756 and 316,767, granted to me April 14 and April 28,1885, inner caps of rigid construction are placed in contact with the back, the cap being permanently attached to the central portion ot' the back in one of said patents and to the body ofthe case in the other.

My present invention has for its object to provide a strengthening device capable of retaining itself in engagement with the ease back or cover by its own elasticity, and of affording the needful protection by the use of the minimum amount of metal.

To this end my invention consists in an elastic metal stiffening or a re-enforcing piece constructed to conform to the contour of the central or weakest portion of the back or cover, and adapted to be engaged at its margin with a flange or shoulder on the back or cover, the resilience of the piece retaining it in engagement with said shoulder and causing its central portion to press closely against the central portion of the back, thereby imparting to it a high degree of resistance to pressure from without and rendering it of much greater efficiency as a protection, as I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speoiiication, Figure 1 represents a view of the inner side of a part of a watchcase provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a section on line x fc, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of thestiftening cap or frame det-ached. Fig. 4 represents a section of a case-back provided with my improvement. Figs. 5 and 6 represent modiiications.

rlhe same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a represents the elastic or flexible re-enforcing piece, which is made of any suitable metal or alloy, preferably, inferior to gold or silver in commercial value for the purpose of securinga degree of rigidity not possessed by the precious metals. The piece is formed to ht closely at its center against the central portion of the back and at its margin against a shoulder, s, formed on the casebody b, as shown in Fig. 2, or on the case back or cover c, as shown in Fig. 4. The elasticity of the piece holds its margin in engagement with the shoulder s, and presses its central portion against the case. The piece a has the general form of a dome with its margin cut away or recessed at suitable points to give it the necessary elasticity and enable it to be readily applied to andl removed from the case or back. In the form shown in the Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the stiffening-piece is eut away at three points, forming three elastic arms, a, which are sections of the margin. The piece may thus be easily applied and as easily removedl when it is desired to determine the net weight of the precious metal, the stiffening-piece being made of alloy. The piece thus formed eX- poses a considerable portion of the ease to View, and imparts great tirmness with the addition of but little weight.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the form of the piece without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, narrow notches or slots may be IOO formed in the piece, as shown in Fig. 5, soihat the piece will almost entirely Cover the inner surface of the back or cover; or the piece may be formed to extend directly across the hack or Cover, as shown in Fig. 6.

I claiml. A stiffeningpieoe for watch-ease backs or covers, consisting of a central portion formed to iit the central portion of the back or cover and an interrupted or sectional ilexible inargin adapted to engage with a shoulder on the back or-oover7 as set forth.

2. A stiffeningpiece for watli-case backs or covers, composed of a central portion formed to fit the central portion of the back or cover and flexible arms adapted to engage with a shoulder on the back or cover, as set forth.

3. A stift'ening-pioce for watch-ease backs or covers, composed ol' a dome formed to iit the Central portion ol' the back or cover, and recessed or out away at its margin to form ilexible arms and expose portions of the inner surface of the hack or cover, as set forth.

4. The combination oi' a watch-ease back or cover anda still'ening-pieee therefor fitting` the central portion of the back or cover, and havA ing two or more AIiexible or elastic arms engaged by their own resilience with a shoulder on the back or cover, as set i'ortli.

In testimony Wheieof have signed my name to this speciiicatioinin the presence of two sul)- scribing witnesses, this 5th day of May, 1885.

EZRA C. FITCH. lVitiiesses:

Ennmi) A. MARsH, C. F. BROWN. 

